''Last year was real crucial, and I think a lot of us believe if we hadn't had got rained out, we would have won,'' said Ruthven, who will start Sunday's game. ''But definitely, I remember that one. It's one we want back.''

Ruthven isn't the only one.

Second baseman Marshall Szabo recalled how difficult it was sitting through the rain delay, the second of the game, which did not finish until well past midnight.

''It was like a new day when we finally got to play,'' he said. ''You try not to get out of your rhythm, but it happened. But that was last year''

Sean Ruthven will pitch Sunday's finale against Alabama.

Allen Sullivan/Staff

Georgia coach David Perno isn't much for reliving the past, either. He said this year's team is much different than last season's squad, which finished 29-26.

''I don't put a whole lot of stock in reliving that anymore, because this is new team with a new personality,'' Perno said. ''But by the same token, we live and learn. We weren't prepared. We didn't handle the delay and maybe we were not as mature as we could have been.''

That shouldn't be the case this time, especially as far as the pitching staff is concerned.

Unlike last year when Ruthven was making his first career conference start, all three of Georgia's pitchers for this series - Paul Lubrano (2-1, 4.63), Michael Hyle (2-1, 2.35) and Ruthven (1-0, 2.53) - not only have SEC experience, they've enjoyed success.

''That's such a big difference,'' said Szabo. ''My freshman year we'd get the bases loaded, or have first and second with less than two out, and I'd start getting nervous.

''But like (Wednesday) when (Johnny) Dobbs came in and cleaned the side with the bases loaded, we've got Hyle, Lubrano and Ruthven who can shut any team down on a given day.''

The Crimson Tide will be the trio's toughest test. Alabama has three starters hitting higher than .300, including infielder Allen Rice, who leads the team at .377 with one homer and 16 RBIs.

But the key to the Crimson Tide's success has been its pitching. The left-handed trio of starters Wade LeBlanc (4-1, 0.92), Brent Carter (4-1, 2.90) and Brandon Belcher (2-1, 2.00) have been largely responsible for Alabama's team ERA of 2.25.

Georgia is hitting .345 and is led by freshman first baseman Josh Morris, who is batting .491 with nine homers and 30 RBIs.

''Thus far, we've had fairly consistent pitching,'' Alabama coach Jim Wells said. ''We've struggled offensively, but we've had some young guys show some life and I've seen some better at-bats. We feel like we can swing the bat a little bit and continue to pitch, even though the competition has gone way up.''

NOTES: Georgia is 2-1 on its current season-long eight-game homestand and 12-2 overall at home this year.

Alabama is coming off a 4-3 loss to Birmingham-Southern.

The Crimson Tide owns a 28-23 edge over the Bulldogs in the series history dating back to 1950. Georgia was swept in a three-game set in Tuscaloosa in last season's SEC-opening weekend.

All three of Alabama's projected starters are left-handed, and the Diamond Dogs are 7-1 against left-handers this year.

Georgia shortstop Justin Holmes (.386-1-14) is riding a career-best 11-game hitting streak, while freshman first baseman Josh Morris continues to lead the Diamond Dogs in hitting at .491 with nine homers and 30 RBIs.